Online Ed.D. All But Dissertation completion program
Achieve doctoral success with Brenau’s Ed.D. All But Dissertation
100% online
3 years
27 to 54 credit hours
$1,090 per credit
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Finish your Ed.D. ABD track and drive impact in education and leadership
- Apply By: 06/17/26
- Start Class: 08/17/26
Have you attained All But Dissertation (ABD) status? You may have if you reached candidacy status in a doctoral program at another institution but did not finish within the allowable time. Brenau University’s online Ed.D. ABD program provides the support and structure to complete your Ed.D. in as few as three years. Transfer up to 27 credits and receive dissertation guidance from day one, with a dedicated advisor and faculty mentor.
The online Ed.D. ABD program offers six concentrations: elementary education, middle grades education, higher education leadership, higher education teaching and learning, secondary education and special education. Gain specialized skills and prepare for leadership roles in schools, universities and education-focused organizations.
Concentration details
- Complete your Ed.D. in as few as 3 years
- Receive dissertation support from day one with dedicated faculty guidance
- Choose from 6 concentrations: elementary, middle grades, higher ed leadership, higher ed teaching, secondary education or special education
- Advance your career in schools, government, research or policy
- Build leadership skills to impact students and education
Complete your Ed.D. ABD with a curriculum built for leadership and impact
Brenau’s Ed.D. All But Dissertation program offers a clear path to complete your doctorate in elementary, middle grades, higher ed leadership, higher ed teaching and learning, secondary education or special education. The research and dissertation sequence guides students through every stage of their doctoral work, from advanced research methods to literature review, proposal development, data collection and dissertation completion, with dedicated faculty mentorship.
Our ABD program stands out by combining structured support, practical skill development and a clear pathway to degree completion, preparing graduates to lead in schools, higher education, government agencies, research and policy organizations.
All but dissertation required courses
Build skills for analyzing data sets, evaluating research design and technique and designing research.
This is an intermediate research course focusing on quantitative methods including ANOVA, MANOVA, regression analysis, non-parametric statistics including chi-square, and introductory clinical trial design in a practice setting.
Comparisons and critiques of the major forms of qualitative research methodology and assessment of credibility, trustworthiness, reliability, and validity of studies that use qualitative designs are topics covered in this course. It will include development of research designs that can be used to inform therapeutic decision making and to assess intervention outcomes.
This course focuses on the practical application of qualitative research methods.
Begin developing the dissertation by posing questions and reviewing existing content to find a specific issue or problem to address.
Build skills for designing the research for your dissertation, hone your proposal and begin developing the first chapters of your dissertation.
With advisor approval, enter the main phase of research for your proposed topic and continue producing chapters for the dissertation.
Analyze your data, complete writing and revisions and prepare for oral defense of your dissertation.
Brenau’s Ed.D. program offers core coursework that covers essential education topics, including curriculum design, academic program assessment and education policy. You’ll strengthen your capacity for leadership and explore the emerging trends driving the future of education.
View Program CurriculumCareer outlook for Ed.D. ABD graduates
Graduates of Brenau’s Ed.D. ABD program build the advanced expertise needed to lead in a variety of educational settings. Doctoral-level preparation opens doors to roles in school leadership, higher education administration, curriculum design and research — all fields where strategic thinking and deep content knowledge are valued. Postsecondary roles such as teaching at the college level are in demand, with employment for postsecondary teachers projected to grow much faster than average.
Brenau’s concentration options in elementary, middle grades, secondary education, higher education leadership, higher education teaching and learning, and special education position you to advance your career, pursue relevant certifications and make meaningful contributions to the future of education. Please note that all salaries listed below are specific to Georgia.
Education Administrator, K-12 $111,020 per year1
Postsecondary Education Administrator $131,590 per year2
Explore more Doctor of Education concentrations
We offer additional Doctor of Education programs focused on elementary and special education. Review those as well as our Doctor of Education in Higher Education programs with concentrations in leadership and teaching and learning.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School.” Retrieved April 3, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes119032.htm.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Education Administrators, Postsecondary.” Retrieved April 3, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes119033.htm.